Live Simply Simply Live
  • Blog
  • Studio
  • Home
  • Cards
  • Coronation Wood

Simply..good parents after all....

30/6/2019

7 Comments

 

Talking of good parenting, over those few hot days last week I was almost certain that the swallows had abandoned their nest and their four young!  After a flurry of activity when the babies first appeared over the rim of the nest above the studio window all went quiet and the adults were hardly to be seen. Last year the baby birds failed to fledge and it looked like the same thing was happening again. I had moved the table and chairs to another part of the garden in case my presence there was disturbing them.

I was so relieved and delighted this morning to see all four - looking suddenly much bigger and very healthy being fed, and sitting on the edge of the nest stretching their wings. It made my day and I didn't mind that the weather is misty and cloudy if it meant that there were now plenty of midgies for the swallows!

There are wrens nesting in the clematis above the study window, and I think I see a few young robins hopping about.

It feels like a privilege to have wild creatures so close.
7 Comments

Simply..Rule Six....

29/6/2019

5 Comments

 
..of Jordan Peterson's 12 Rules For Life is

Do not let your children do anything that makes you dislike them.

The reason being that other people will also dislike them and their life will be harder because of it.

The vital process of socialization prevents much harm and fosters much good.

Poorly socialized children have terrible lives.

As a clinical psychologist Peterson has seen the sometimes heartbreaking effects of poor parenting and says that children are damaged when those charged with their care , afraid of any conflict or upset, no longer dare to correct them and leave them without guidance.....such children are chronically ignored by their peers.

From Rousseau to Skinner, Jane Goodall, Disney's Sleeping Beauty and Lord of the Flies, Peterson covers a lot of ground and stresses just how difficult and challenging a task parenting is. I like the final paragraph of this chapter where he describes a well socialized and thriving child. There are no greater gifts that a committed and courageous parent can bestow.

As ever, thought provoking!


5 Comments

Simply..making the most of it....

28/6/2019

14 Comments

 
Picture

A 'Country Living' moment today. Too warm at 25 degrees to do anything much but drink more wine and eat more ice cream than I am used to. But, it's due to change tomorrow and dare I say it, I'm quite glad!

I'm not great in the heat - even our modest temperatures - and although it is pleasant to do very little for a day or two, there are things I want to do.

I know some of you are experiencing temperatures much higher - any tips on how to cope?
14 Comments

Simply..a touch of the Med....

27/6/2019

14 Comments

 
Picture

Holidaying at home with a meal on the deck of the local hotel. 23 degrees. Just right.
14 Comments

Simply..went to post a letter....

26/6/2019

7 Comments

 
..and ended up listening to over 70 talented young people making music. What an unexpected joy!

All week I have been hearing music drift across the field from the Outdoor Centre and on the way back from the postbox I asked two women if they were from the centre and  were they  perhaps putting on a concert? Yes, tomorrow night in Glasgow, but, they said, I would be wecome to sit in on their rehearsal in the afternoon.

It was wonderful. The GSSO - Glasgow Schools Symphony Orchestra has players aged 13 to 18. The programme of Dvorak, Sibelius and Borodin will be performed at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow on Thursday evening at 7.00pm. Listen out for superb solo violinist Anna McKenzie.

Three of the staff came up to visit later in the afternoon and after a look in the studio we sat out in the sunshine in the garden.  The talent, enthusiasm and commitment of staff and students were uplifting and heartwarming and made my day!

In other news - the sun shone all day, four baby swallows hatched and a Red Admiral butterfly sat on my shirtsleeve for a while - oh, and I planted out the mina lobata and gave them blue painted canes to climb up. Altogether a delightful day.


Picture
7 Comments

Simply..desperate....

25/6/2019

8 Comments

 

I think this plant is trying to tell me something..
Picture

It's a vigorous climber called mina lobata which I've been growing at the studio window as it's quite tender and the weather hasn't been warm enough yet to plant it out. I plan to grow it up canes, meanwhile it is growing up the piano stool legs! Better not sit at the piano too long..
8 Comments

Simply..reading....

24/6/2019

13 Comments

 
..at least three books at once! Do you do this?

I'm getting behind with Jordan Peterson's 12 Rules for Life which I said I'd read, and review, one chapter a month, Gretchen Rubin's Better Than Before about making and breaking habits has just come through the door and is tempting me away from Michelle Obama's Becoming which I am rushing through for book group which is tomorrow!

I ordered Becoming a bit late (do you find that if you don't pay for Amazon Prime deiiveries take a lot longer than they used to?) so to get a start on the content I started listening to interviews with her about her autobiography.

In this interview (25 mins 36 seconds in) with Oprah they both get very giggly about some major experiences they have had which they found themselves reacting to with an inner Mm,mm,mm!  I found it pretty funny and quite endearing and began to think of some things which have happened to me to which I can only respond Mm,mm,mm!

Can you think of any such moments?
13 Comments

Simply..fun....

23/6/2019

6 Comments

 
Picture

The weather held for our midummer party! Huge macaroni cheese and salad in the garden, barbecue on the beach and back to the garden for cake and strawberries....everyone pitching in, so relaxing and easy...

Love it.

Picture
Picture
6 Comments

Simply..my favourite season....

22/6/2019

11 Comments

 

Summer. I have decided, is my favourite season.
Picture
I like the light nights. This was taken at 11pm last night.
Picture
Breakfast outside iwth a little bunch of buttercups from my own tiny meadow (gives me a thrill!).
Picture
A cold paddle instead of a cold shower this morning.

I think I relax more in summer than in any other season.

Which is your favourite season?

Whichever one you are in, have a lovely weekend.

11 Comments

Simply..gorgeous midsummer....

21/6/2019

4 Comments

 

It's been a glorious midsummer's day. The kind of summer experience I was hoping for!

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
4 Comments

Simply..bees buzz....

20/6/2019

8 Comments

 

One of my plans for my summer (this post) is to pay more attention to the wildlife in my garden.  A sound like an engine running, quietly, drew me to this rowan tree, sorbus sargentiana, in the front garden.

Picture
Picture

It is flowering like never before and every single cluster of flowers seems to have at least one bee on it! That must be hundreds and hundreds of bees.

Mesmerising!

And heartening.
8 Comments

Simply..I can see clearly....

19/6/2019

6 Comments

 

I can see that The Macular Society, the RNIB and the NHS are doing wonderful work here in uk on macular degeneration, as are the many researchers and pharmaceutical compamies.

I can see that hospitals are humbling places and I have the greatest respect for the consultants and nurses who deal with distressing emergencies and frightened people with such kindness and respect. I was present when a woman arrived who had woken up that morning completely blind in one eye.

I see that am lucky to be able to do so much research online, listening to experts in stem cell therapy, statisticians who look at world statistics and diet and to conferences around the world - it's fantastic that all this is available to me in a quiet Scottish village. There are also charlatans who prey on desperate people of course, and I have had to learn how to find trustworthy sources of information. It is fascinating.

I can see very well most of the time.

I hope you can see what a support you are to me!

Thank you so much.
6 Comments

Simply seeing..or not....

18/6/2019

8 Comments

 
Thank you so much for your warm responses to my good news about my eyes!

I'm making no claims for my regime of daily Macushield (a natural supplement), fresh juices every day, healthy diet and moderate exercise, but I am certainly keeping it up. 

I simply could not just sit and wait to go blind, and determined that if I am going to be blind (and that is the assumption) at least I will be healthy and slim and fit and energetic and blind. I reckon my best chance is to create a healthy body to support my eyes and that maybe, given optimum conditions, my eyes might re-generate or at least not de-generate further and who knows, a cure may be just around the corner....

Maybe I'm just one of the lucky ones.


A little more tomorrow.

8 Comments

Simply seeing..better....

17/6/2019

17 Comments

 

Under the category Simply Seeing..Or Not I have written 15 posts since 2015 about my experience with AMD (Age-Related Macular Degeneration which is the leading cause of blindness in UK).

When I visited the opthalmologist in January she told me what I already knew - that there was a slight change in my left eye - for the better!

I have just been to see the consultant at the hospital and been told there is 'considerable improvement' in the sight of my left eye

Excited beyond words!!

Well aware of course (and reminded of it by the consultant as he saw me out) that it could all go horribly wrong tomorrow.

But still excited....
17 Comments

Simply..light nights....

16/6/2019

8 Comments

 
Picture
8 Comments

Simply..between showers....

15/6/2019

10 Comments

 
Benmore Botanic Gardens are just a beautiful half-hour drive from home..

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

Ben is the Scottish name for mountain. There is always something beautiful to see, rain or shine.
10 Comments

Simply..for Lucille....

14/6/2019

6 Comments

 
Picture
6 Comments

Simply..walked out early....

13/6/2019

8 Comments

 
On an impulse I walked down to the shore very early the other morning.
Picture
It was still and silent and a deer bounded across the path in front of me.
Picture
The thrift is in full flower now.
Picture
A little paradise moment to start the day.
8 Comments

Simply stylish....

12/6/2019

14 Comments

 

I love this little bag, a surprise find in a local shop where I was just passing time till the bus came... Italian leather £19.95

Picture
I got a sweet hug from a laughing girl in the street who was holding a big notice saying FREE HUGS.

Both the bag and the hug were very cheering!
14 Comments

Simply..fitter....

11/6/2019

8 Comments

 
Now promise you won't laugh when you look at this link (okI know you will! I laughed too.).

No, I will not be sitting in the snow half naked any time soon, or anytime ever.

How I came across this I have no idea - things often just find me. Intrigued and super-sceptical I watched a few videos and Ted Talks and eventually thought I'd give the breathing a try. Deep breathing is good for you, right? I felt pretty good after just one round and began to do just one round most mornings. It only took a minute or two and I felt energetic and ready to go after it. This was around the same time I began to finish washing my hair with a cold rinse (which I mentioned a few weeks ago). That perked me up a bit further and seemed innocent enough.

Then one morning after my lovely warm shower I turned it to cold and timidly put my hands and feet under it for a few seconds. It took me about three weeks to stand fully under the cold water and ACTUALLY LIKE IT.

Yes, me.

The wimp.

I love it.


I joined the free mini class then unsubscribed easily and wasn't bombarded with unwanted  emails. I do it on my own in my own time now. A new habit.
8 Comments

Simply..sorted....

10/6/2019

20 Comments

 
Hello those of you who are still with me!

One new hardrive and a considerable amount of stress later I am so happy to be back here after a gap of wh a full week which made me aware of how much this daily blog means to me.

It is like a touchstone in my day, making me take stock of where I am at, and having like-minded  and generously responsive people to share that with.

June days have been full of contrasts. There have been times when I could hardly see the loch..

Picture
and days that look just as you wish June to look.
Picture

How has your June gone so far? Are you designing and planning your summer?

I have got off to a healthy start with a breathing exercise which makes me feel great in the mornings.

More tomorrow!
20 Comments

Simply?

3/6/2019

10 Comments

 
I try to live simply, I really do, but life when your computer breaks down can get very complicated!

​Hoping to be back soon..x
10 Comments

Simply..summer?

1/6/2019

9 Comments

 
I write this on a wet, rather chilly morning in the west of Scotland. I was supposed to get the grass cut today....it's not going to happen!

British summers are notoriously fickle weatherwise, but I am still inspired to Design My Summer a lovely idea from (a very fast talking) Gretchen Rubin in this video.

 I will have a think about what I love best about summer and look over some June/July/August posts to remind me. I know I want picnics and a family Midsummer Barbecue but in this climate there has to be a Plan B for such events. I want a few outings, I want to wear some summery clothes, and to nap in the hammock

I want to pay extra attention this summer to the wildlife in the garden. There have been more butterflies than usual so far, and the swallows are in the nest, and I think bees may be nesting in the wall just by the front door....and a red squirrel  passes through occasionally on its way to next door's bird table.

I'm happy to holiday at home - if the weather is good there's nowhere else I'd rather be.

What do you want from your summer?
9 Comments

    Categories

    All
    Live Simply
    Live Simply
    Simple
    Simply Beautiful
    Simply Bin It
    Simply Chill
    Simply Christmas
    Simply Christmas
    Simply Do A Good Deed
    Simply Draw
    Simply Draw
    Simply Eat
    Simply Fitter
    Simply Fun
    Simply Get Rid
    Simply Grow
    Simply Headspace
    Simply Holiday
    Simply Home
    Simply Home
    Simply Inspirational
    Simply Laugh
    Simply Learn
    Simply Listen
    Simply Live
    Simply Low Maintenance
    Simply Money
    Simply Move
    Simply Move
    Simply Organise
    Simply Paint
    Simply Routine
    Simply Seeing.. Or Not
    Simply Stylish
    Simply Venice
    Simply Write


    Author

    An artist seeking a simpler life - (but not too simple!)

    All words and images copyright Freda Waldapfel 2010 - 2020

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.